August 27, 2004
FOOD FOR THE BOOMER SOUL
Bishop aims to woo worshippers back with sweet talk (Jonathan Petre, The Telegraph, August 27th, 2004)
A bishop who warned that the Church of England was facing extinction is to launch a campaign to lure 50-somethings back to the pews with bars of chocolate and their favourite hymns.The Bishop of Manchester, the Rt Rev Nigel McCulloch, is attempting to swell attendance figures at harvest festival services next month by distributing thousands of credit card-style invitations and "goody" bags of free gifts, including chocolate.
The initiative, which is being sponsored by a Christian businessman, is largely aimed at over-50s who have drifted away from worship rather than the under-20s, the age group Church leaders normally seem most anxious to attract.
The "Back to Church Sunday" scheme has been inspired by glitzy PR launches and marketing campaigns that give away gift bags to promote their products. [...]
Canon Roger Hill, the rector of St Ann's church, Manchester, said he was very enthusiastic about the scheme. "We come across dozens of people who say they have slipped out of the habit of going to church and want to come back. We have found that personal invitations are a very effective way to achieve this. The bar of chocolate just brings an extra element of pleasure."
All well and good, but a nasty rumour has it the Catholics will be offering air miles and the Unitarians, Viagra.
Nonetheless, you can't stop progress.
Posted by Peter Burnet at August 27, 2004 10:02 AMNow that's what religion is all about, "the customer is always right".
Posted by: Robert Duquette at August 27, 2004 10:39 AMWho'd a thunk?
Posted by: Jeff Guinn at August 27, 2004 11:40 AMThis is pathetic. Do the Anglicans think these church-goers left because they didn't get chocolate? Maybe they should hire a mktg firm to actually survey members who either left the Church of England or simply stopped attending. I'm sure the results would be helpful, but I doubt it'd reveal chocolate as the reason.
Posted by: Chris Durnell at August 27, 2004 11:53 AMI always thought wafer (and wine) were sufficient motivation. Does eternal life require dessert?
Posted by: Fred Jacobsen (San Fran) at August 27, 2004 1:08 PMThe Unitarians won't give out Viagra until the drug companies come up with a female equivalent...
Posted by: John at August 27, 2004 2:07 PMFred, I hate to speculate on what the chocolate bar might represent if it were included in the Eucharist.
Posted by: Robert Duquette at August 27, 2004 4:50 PM"Nonetheless, you can't stop progress.":
[C]lergy needed to emulate the "meeting and greeting" techniques of the commercial world to attract people back to the pews.
The study, by the Rev Alison Gilchrist, a Church of England priest, warned that many first-time visitors to church never returned because of the lack of welcome. [...]
Strangers were often ignored after services and "after a solitary shuffle in the corner until they lose heart, they make a bid for the door never to be seen again".
Well, duh.
What kind of recruiting organization ignores prospective members ?
A shrinking one, to be sure.
Chris Durnell:
Giving away attractive trinkets is a time-honored way of boosting attendence at any kind of event.
Once back, some will remember why they attended in the first place, and resume the habit.
Michael:
Agreed--for five year olds. That's why we have the Easter Bunny. But for 50's+?
Posted by: Peter B at August 28, 2004 7:49 AMYup, absolutely.
Ask any person who works in advertising or marketing.
"Free" works on all age groups and all income levels.
I bet they'd rather just get a rebate on their church taxes.
Posted by: Harry Eagar at August 28, 2004 7:18 PMHarvest Sunday?
Now, I grew up (Mormon) in a church without a traditional religious calendar (no Lent, Ash Wenedsday, etc), but is their really a harvest Sunday?
Posted by: Jason Johnson at August 29, 2004 7:58 PM